L is for the way you look at me…Hyde and Jackie grew up together in a gang on the outskirts of Point Place and eight years later, they go through life changing ordeals to the point where Hyde remembers a song…Alternate Reality.

Default: I don't own That 70's show or anything else I talk about in my story.

"She's your daughter."

"I never wanted her."

"I don't want to deal with her anymore."

These screams and yells echoed through the Burkhart mansion. A little girl at the tender age of nine sat on a large leather sofa, which seemed to be swallowing her alive. She balled her tiny hands into fists and repeatedly slapped them over her ears. No matter how hard she threw her arms around the sounds of their fight still reached her. How many times did they have to talk about how worthless she was before the tears would stop? Ever since the girl was old enough to understand when they were talking about, she regretted it. All they really did argue with was the word hate. It was an evil word.

Her parents came down from the landing on the stairs and noticed the girl sitting there staring at the wall. "What are you doing here Jaclyn?" Her mother asked. By the tone in her voice, he girl could tell she had been drinking. "Meghan's party ended early, so I walked home." Jaclyn answered in a trembling voice. She didn't like it when they talked to her after a fight. She really didn't like fights about herself. "Why didn't you just stay with them?" Her father asked after pulling out a glass from the cabinet in the kitchen. "Well, it was," the girl was interrupted. "What do you mean why didn't she stay?" Her mother bellowed. "Why would we want to bother Mrs. Mitchell like that?"

The fight continued on into the night and was recorded as one of the longest fights they've ever had. Jaclyn, or Jackie, didn't like the constant fighting. Late that night, around 11 o'clock, she gathered up her backpack, stuffed full with a blanket, a unicorn stuffed animal, two apples, and her favorite book, and then snuck down stairs. Her father was asleep on the couch again. Like he was every night. Alarm systems were off whenever drinking was involved and Jackie had no trouble getting through the front door. Guided by the illuminating moon, she slowly walked the cold sidewalks away from her house.

Everything is always scarier at night to little kids. Mostly girls. A snap by a branch sent the Jackie running down the sidewalks. She bolted across the street, forgetting the rule her aunt taught her about holding an adult's hand. Nothing was familiar anymore as she quickly look gathered her surroundings. None of her friends lived in the run down part of town, so her parents wouldn't know where she was either. Good. As long as she never had to see her parents again, everything would be okay. Jackie walked down the unfamiliar street slowly, making almost inaudible footsteps.

There were laughs coming up from around the corner. They seemed happy and warm. Straightening up, Jackie walked a bit faster to reach the noise. She reached the corner and peered around the side. The second she did another set of blue eyes met hers. She screamed and jumped back. The other pair of eyes, which belonged to a young ten-year-old boy, jumped back also. "What was that?" A deep voice asked. It sounded far away. "I don't know. I think it's a girl." The boy said. "Well figure it out Hyde." Another voice said. Jackie, who had fallen on her rump, started to scoot away from the boy. "Get away from me." She warned. "Calm down dummy." He replied. She slowly stopped failing her arms and sat cross-legged, but still alert.

"What are you doing out here?" He asked. Jackie didn't know if she should answer this stranger. Seeing that he was around her age, it didn't seem like he would hurt her. "I ran away from home." She answered. He watched her for a minute, contemplating something. What could a ten-year-old contemplate? "Come with me." He said extending his hand to her, which she graciously accepted. "What's your name?" He asked. She looked at him. He wasn't much taller then her and had short blonde curly hair. His eyes were hard though. Like an older man's eyes would look. "Jaclyn Burkhart. But you can call me Jackie." She whispered. Without being asked, the boy introduced himself. 'I'm Steven Hyde, but people 'round here call me Hyde."

There was a rather large group of guys hanging around a fire in the back of the alleyway. This had been where the laughing came from. Everyone looked hard as nails and badly dressed. There were probably six other guys hanging around and they were all watching the two kids. "So it was a girl." Someone said. He had gelled black hair and was smoking a cigarette. "What's your name girly?" A taller guy asked, He had gelled blonde hair and was holding a stick, which he was poking at the fire with. Jackie couldn't speak. The words had left her and her mouth was glued shut. "Her name's Jackie." Hyde said for her. "What's she doing here?" The guy asked again. This time he was directing it at Hyde, not at Jackie. "She ran away from home." He answered. "Another one?" A deep hidden voice said loudly. Jackie didn't understand what that meant.

"You can sleep by me." Hyde offered heading over to his sleeping bag. That was it. All her worrying was over. The gang had accepted her as one of them. She never had to go home to the fighting again. She would be safe too. This gang of close-knit friends seemed like they would be fun to hang out with. Especially Steven. He interested her more then the others. He was only a year older then her, and seemed like an adult. From the minute he extended his hand to help her up, Jackie knew they'd be close friends. If only she knew.